Toy construction set



Nov. 26,' 1935.v W L, WADE 2,022,261

TOY CONSTRUCTION SET Nov'. 26, 1935. w, 1 WADE 2,022,261 Y TOYCONSTRUCTION SET Filed July 18, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmc/whom vfrb wwwNov; 26, 1935. O y W. L, WADE 2,022,261

TOY CONSTRUCTION SET Filed July 18. 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov.26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of toys and pertains particularly totoysof the type known as construction sets.

The primary object of the present invention is vto provide a toyIconstruction set which includes and makes use of a spring grip type of'clothespin and certain other units which facilitate the construction ofa large variety of toys.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction set havingin addition to the clothespin units, other parts or units of simpleinexpensive construction whereby the set, as a whole, may beeconomically produced.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel group ofconstruction elements which in association with the spring type ofclothespin referred to may be employed to construct practically .anytype of structure.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanydrawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding,however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformitywith the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so longas such changes or modifications mark no material departure from thesalient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates in side elevation one type of structure which maybe built up with the elements of the construction set embodying thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 andextending transversely of the structure;

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 andextending only through one side of the structure;

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a view in perspective of one of an elemental group of unitsof the set;

Figure 8 is a View in side elevation of another of an elemental group ofthe set;

Figure 9 is a view in perspective of another one of an elemental groupof the set;

Figure 10 is a viewv in perspective of another one of an elemental groupof the set;

Figure 11 is a view in perspective of another one of an elemental groupof the set;

Figure l2 is a View in perspective of' another one of an elemental groupof the set;

Figure 13 is a view in perspective of another 5 one of an elementalgroup of the set;

Figure .14 is a view in side elevation of another one of an elementalgroup of the set;

Figure l5 is a view in side elevation of another one of an ele-mentalgroup of the set; 10

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line Iii-I6of Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will'be seen uponreference to Figures 7 to inclusive that the Iconstruction set embody-15 ing the present invention is made up of nine distinct elements and acomplete set comprises several of each of these individual elements ofwhich one of each is illustrated. The numeral I in Figure 'l illustratesan oblong frame having 20 the parallel side bars 2 and transverse endbars 3. Each of these side and end bars has a wide channel 4 formedlongitudinally of its inner and outer face tofacilitate the attachmentof certain of the other elements thereto in the construction of abuilt-up unit.

The numeral 5 indicates a rectangular frame in which the inner and outerfaces of the four side pieces have longitudinal recesses or channels 6like the channels 4 of the frame I. 30

In Figure 8 is illustrated a disk 'I having a rectangular centralaperture 8 and having a groove or channel 9 formed in each side faceconcentrically with the outer edge thereof. This channel, which isformed upon the two sides of the disk, is provided to facilitate theengagement of certain of the other elements of the set with the disk, aswill be hereinafter more fully described.

Figure 10 represents one of a number of ele- 40 ments which are in theform of a board Ii), which may be of oblong design, as illustrated, orrectangular, ifdesired. In two opposite edges, this board is providedwith recesses or notches II while a rectangular opening I2 is formedthrough 45 the central part thereof.

The numeral I3 in Figure 11 illustrates a bar having twoopposite facesat each end beveled, as indicated at I4, to decrease the width of thebar at the end and having a slot I5 formed in 50 each end between thebeveled surfaces I4, as illustrated. These beveled ends i 4 of the barI3 are designed for frictional engagement in the opening I2 of the boardI0 and the thickness of the board IIJ is such that it will frictionallyengage in a slot I of the bar where it is desired to couple the boardand bar together in this manner.

The numeral I5 in Figure 12 illustrates a bar which is of greaterthickness at one longitudinal edge than at the other, the bar thuspresenting in transverse section a wedge-like appearance whichfacilitates its frictional engagement between portions of one of'theelements about to be described. This bar, together with the bar I'Iillustrated in Figure 13 isk employed in the construction of a unitwhere a large number of the clothespins of the character indicated bythe numeral I8 in Figure 15 are to be set up in side by side relation.The bar I'I is relatively light and is flexible so that, because of itslightness, it may be used in quantity in a structure without materiallyincreasing the weight of the structure and its flexibility permits ofthe formation of curved walls or the like.

The unit I8 is of the usual spring type clothespin, the jaws of whichare indicated by the numeral I9, and are normally maintained in ilrrncontact by a spring 20 which couples the two parts of the pin together.At the opposite end of the pin from the jaw, the two parts of the pinare in divergentrelation so that the thin edge of the wedge-like bar |6may be easily frictionally engaged therebetween in the mannerillustrated in Figure 5.

' Figure 14 represents a twin form of the clothespin illustrated inFigure 15, wherein there is provided a single long bar 2| which at eachend is formed to provide a jaw 22 which is held in opposed relation witha similar jaw 23 of a short bar 24. The short bar 24 is of the sameconstruction as either of the two bars of the clothespin illustrated inFigure 15, and this shcrt bar is held in operative relation with one endof the long bar 2| by the spring 25. The side ofthe long bar 2|, whichis in opposition to the free ends of the bars 24 which are joinedthereto, is cut out, as indicated at 26, to provide space for the inwardmovement of the bar 24 against the tension of the spring 25 so that thejaws 22-23 may be opened, and this also provides an area into which anend of the bar I6 may be inserted, or in which one of the furcations atthe end of a bar I3 may be inserted so that the bar 2| is frictionallyengaged in the slet I5 of a bar I3, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 6.

The number of structures which may be built up of the units illustratedin Figures '7 to 15 inclusive, is limited only by the ingenuity of the'user of the set, therefore, it would be impossible to illustrate themany uses to which theset could be put, but in order that the manner ofcoupling the several parts described may be readily understood, there isshown in Figure 1 a structure representing a river boat in which atleast one of each of the unit elements is shown. As will be seen, two ofthe oblong frames I form a part of the base of the boat structuretogether with the parts I6 and |'I. The side members of the frames I andthe parts IB and Il are gripped by a number of vertically disposedgripping elements or pins I8, certain of which at their upper ends havefrictionally engaged between the two parts thereof other bars I5.

Between the two sides of the base structure thus formed, a board I0 ishorizontally disposed which rests upon the upper ends of the lowervertical elements I8 and which has at each side' one of these elementsengaged in a notch II. This forms a deck for the structure, as isclearly shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 illustrates how the gripping elements i8 engage the sides of aframe I, the faces of 5 the jaws locating in the opposite channels 4 ofthe frame so that the gripping element cannot slip from position. Thisview also illustrates how one side of a gripping element may position inthe notch Il in the side edge of a board I0 10 so as to maintain theboard in position in a built up structure. Figure 3 also illustrates theconnection of gripping elements with the small rectangular frame 5. Theaction here is the same, of course, as in connection with the frame I,but this view further shows the Width of the structure illustrated inFigure 1, showing how the superstructure is supported fromlongitudinally extending side rails or bars I6. This superstructure ismade up, as shown, of the single gripper elements I8, the end slottedbars I3, and

a disk I which has the jaw ends of a gripper element I8 frictionallyengaged in the aperture 8 thereof.

At the rear of the boat structure, a pair of the bars I3 is located,each of which is frictionally connected with the rear edge of a board IBwhich forms one deck of the boat structure. The. other ends of the barsI3 receive in the slots thereof the single long bar of a double or twingripper element 2|. The jaws at the ends of this double or twin gripperelement are frictionally engaged in the apertures of the disks 'I andeach of these disks is engaged about its periphery by and between thejaws of a plurality of the single gripper elements I8, thus illustratingthe purpose of the channels or grooves 9 formed circularly in the twofaces of the disks, as will be readily apparent. vThis rear constructionof the boat, employing the two disks 1, the 40 single gripper elementsradiating from the disks and the transversely disposed double gripperelement 2|, simulates the paddle wheel structure of a river boat. I

A series of the double gripper elements 2| 45 are arranged at the rearof the boat structure and extend upwardly across the central part of thepaddle wheel simulating portion, and form a connection between the rearend of the rear bottom frame and the rear ofthe upper part of .the boatstructure, asis clearly shown Yin Figure 1.

While each and every one lof the elements going to make up the boatstructure pictured in Figure 1 has not been referred to specically, it55 is believed that a sufficient description of the structure has beengiven to show the general idea for combining the elemental parts, whentaken in association with the sectional views illustrated in Figures 2to 6 inclusive. 60

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that a child or anyoneelse capable of thinking out simple constructional details may veryeasily figure out a large number of other objects which may be built upby combining the elements of the set in various ways. It is understood,of course, that a complete set will be made up of a number of each ofthe units illustrated in Figures '7 to 15 inclusive, which number maybeincreased or decreased according to the commercial value of the setdesired.

What is claimed is:- Y

1. A toy construction set, comprising in comvbination with a pluralityof spring actuated clothesp'ins, bar members, disks, and boards, said 75disks being provided with central apertures adapted to frictionallyreceive an end of one of said clothespins and a circular groove on eachface facilitating a non-slipping gripping engagement of one of saidclothespins therewith, and said boards having edge formationsfacilitating the interconnection of said clothespins therewith.

2. A toy construction set, comprising in combination with a plurality ofspring clothespins, a plurality of frames having inner and outer faces,a plurality of bar members, a plurality of disks, and a. plurality ofboards, each of said disks having an aperture to frictionally receive anend of one of said clcthespins, each of said frames having groovesextending longitudinally of the inner and outer faces thereoffacilitating the non-slipping gripping engagement of one of saidclothespins therewith and each of said boards having edge recesses eachadapted to receive a clothespin.

3. A toy construction set, comprising a plurality of spring clothespins,a rectangular frame having each of the four sides thereof provided withan inner and outer face and each facie having a longitudinal groovetherein facilitating the nonslipping gripping engagement of one of saidclothespins therewith, and a plurality of bar members adapted forconnecting together ends of a group of said clothespins.

4. Av toy construction set, comprising a plurality of springclothespins, a rectangular frame having each of the four sides thereofprovided with an inner and outer face and each face having alongitudinal groove therein facilitating the non-slipping grippingengagement of one of said clothespins therewith, and a plurality of barmembers adapted for connecting together ends of a group of saidclothespins, certain of said bar members having a longitudinallyextending slot in each end and certain others of the bar members beingvof wedge-shaped cross-section.

5. In a toy construction set including a plurality of springclothespins, a twin gripping element comprising an elongated bar havingeach end formed as a gripping jaw, a jaw member paralleling said bar ateach end and opposing the adjacent jaw, spring means connecting each ofthe ends of the bar with the adjacent jaw member, and elementsfacilitating the coupling together of clothespins and said'twin grippingelement for said erection of a structure.

6. A toy construction set, comprising a plurality of spring clothespins,a rectangular frame adapted to have any one of the four sides thereofengaged by one of said clothespins, and a plurality of bar membersadapted for connecting together the ends of a group of said clothespins.

7. A toy construction set, comprising a plurality of spring clothespins,a rectangular frame adapted to have any one of the four sides thereofengaged by one of said clothespins, and a plurality of bar membersadapted for connecting together the ends of a group of said clothespins,certain of said bar members having slots extending longitudinallyinwardly from their ends.

WILLIAM L. WADE.

